Headquarters is in Elizabeth, N.J., and there are 11
locations in all — six in the USA, five in other countries
(Canada, China, France, India, Australia).

Clark Hale tends to look at the big picture. Literally. The new
president/COO of Hayward Industries has been charged with
overseeing the firm’s global business operations involving
residential and commercial pool and spa products.

Hale assumed his post on Sept. 11, 2012, and said he’s
already spent a fair amount of time traveling, particularly in
North America, as well as to the Piscine pool/spa show in Lyon,
France, last month. Hale wants to get to know customers, suppliers
and employees, and so far he’s been impressed with what
he’s seen.

“The employees show so much energy, productivity and
commitment to continued improvement,” Hale said.
“Hayward has some of the most efficient plants I’ve
ever seen.”

Prior to joining Elizabeth, N.J.-based Hayward, he served as an
executive at several large manufacturers. Most recently, Hale was
president of Brooks Instrument, where he headed all global
operations for the industrial flow measurement and control maker.
For six years before that, he was executive vice president of
Victaulic Co., a manufacturer of specialty mechanical piping
systems. His 17-year tenure at Emerson Electric included several
operational leadership positions before he was named division
president of ASCO Valve – U.S. and Copeland
Refrigeration.

“Clearly, Hayward is a leading company, and I want to build
upon that,” Hale said of his new role. Indeed, as CEO Robert
Davis pointed out, the company’s new president has been
tasked with leading the Hayward team to ”meet our
industry’s challenges for more sophisticated products and new
market opportunities, domestically and globally.”

On the educational front, Hale earned a Bachelor of Science degree
in mechanical engineering at Brown University, a Master of Science
in mechanical engineering from University of California at
Berkeley, and a Master of Business Administration at Rutgers
University.

He enjoys spending his leisure time with his wife Amy, a former
materials engineer, 19-year-old son and 11-year-old twin boys.
“We spend a lot of time at basketball, soccer, football and
baseball games,” Hale said. “Personally, I like to golf
and exercise (running and swimming).”